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Daily Prompt: Quote Me

“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.”

~ Katherine Mansfield

I posted this quote recently as part of my Thoughtful Thursday feature. It’s a quote I’ve been carrying around with me since I was 20.

I’ve written before about my aversion to risk. Actually, it’s not really an aversion. Ok, yes it is. I regret more that I haven’t done than what I have. It used to be (between the ages of 19 and 25) that the only time I took risks was with the help of some liquid courage and they weren’t necessarily healthy risks. Then somehow I fell into a cocoon of sorts, insulated from all the things I thought were scary.

Here’s the thing: risk is a requirement for growth. I don’t think I fully understood that the first time I latched on to this quote. I’m old enough to have some perspective now, old enough to fully grasp the folly of being risk-adverse, old enough to shake my head and wish for a do-over. Fortunately, I’m young enough to take action, to bust through the cocoon of comfort and safety. Fortunately, I become stronger as I get older.

Terrific post. Good luck breaking free of your risk insulate cocoon. I’ve reached the age where I wish I could have a do over on some aspects of my earlier life, but I’m still lacking the courage to truly take the risks needed to start over. One of these days… and I’m hoping it has something to do with writing.

Love this! ( and the obscure Katherine Mansfield reference) as I look back on my life, I am 100%happy with the risks I took, regardless of the outcome. And 100% wondering about the “what ifs”. I wish I could use this I sight to motivate myself to be more risk-taking, but I don’t think I’m programmed that way.